Indonesia's Industry Ministry rejects draft cigarette packaging standardisation

The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) in Indonesia has formally opposed the inclusion of a chapter on uniform cigarette packaging in the draft Health Ministry regulation derived from Government Regulation No. 28/2024. Director Merrijantij Punguan Pintaria said the ministry wants the provision removed, arguing that the rule should only address the design and placement of health warnings, not an overall standardisation of pack size, shape or colour. Kemenperin also raised concerns about proposed limits on nicotine and tar, urging a comprehensive, multi‑stakeholder study before any caps are set.

Legal scholar Gugun El Guyanie from UIN Sunan Kalijaga warned that the draft regulation fails to consider the structural impact on Indonesia’s tobacco ecosystem, which employs about six million workers and generates roughly Rp 217 trillion in state revenue. He called for a balanced review that involves agriculture, industry, trade and labour sectors, noting that small‑scale kretek manufacturers could face closures and that illegal trade could rise.

Local officials in Temanggung also voiced opposition, citing potential disruption to the supply chain for tobacco farmers and the risk of job losses across the upstream and downstream tobacco industry. The draft rules are expected to be finalised before the primary regulation takes effect on 26 July 2026.